Page 3 of Learning to Love

Not sure how to interpret that one. Has Gracie told him something?

Sam chuckles softly and gives Paddy a bear hug. “I’ll leave my car at yours, and Uber home. Only had a couple of drinks, but I don’t want to risk it.” Strange that for someone who takes so many risks on the water, he seems so risk averse in his personal life. What is this man’s secret?

“Ellie here needs a ride home. She lives about five minutes away from here on the Shore.” Paddy is like a dog with a bone. I’m certain Gracie’s sent him around to do her dirty work. I practically can hear her cackling all the way from the kitchen. “How about she drives your car to her place?”

One of Sam’s eyebrows shoots up. “And where do I go?”

The plan is ridiculous. And so obvious. But I don’t want to let him go. Not yet. “You come with me in the car to my place, have a coffee, sober up a bit, hang around, then take yourself home.” I give myself a perfect ten for that mental gymnastics. Talk about twisted logic. After all, why can’t he just crash at Paddy and Gracie’s place and return home in the morning. Or just Uber home, wherever that is.

Paddy blows a chef’s kiss. “Perfection. See you next time. Have fun and stay safe.” He winks to us as he pushes us through pertiers, past a beaming Gracie, and out the door into the quiet of the driveway.

Sam’s brows furrow. “What was that? I didn’t understand any of it. Maybe I did have more to drink than usual.” He shakes his head. “Ok, we’ll go to your place, have a coffee to sober up, then I’ll drive home when I’m ready.” He looks at me apologetically and hands me the car keys.

He hasn’t made any move towards me. I’m starting to think I've just imagined the whole thing, the desire, the closeness. I’ll have to put this to the test.

I perk up and press the car unlock button to see which one it is. We get in, and I try to familiarize myself with the car. “Firstly, no car key holder. Interesting. Secondly, no handbrake. Even more interesting.”

He watches me intently, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Is this the eject button? Every spaceship should have one."

Now he's outright laughing.

"Press this button, then this button, then we should be ready to go. There's a footbrake." When he leans over to show me how to make this ridiculous spaceship work, he puts a hand on my leg. The lightest touch, but it makes me weak at the knees. Again.

Sam's car roars into life, and I start my brief journey homeward with an all-consuming knot in my gut.

Chapter 2

Sam

My car glides through the night past sleepy Shore streets lined with Pohutukawa trees, and my thoughts circle and swirl in my head like a riptide in the ocean.

I roll the window down and the fresh sea air hits me, its salty smell combined with something else. Is it the night-time? Is it anticipation?

I can't make head nor tail of why Ellie's driving us in my car to her house. I can't read physical, non-verbal cues very well at the best of times. Add that to the effect she has on my brain, and it's easy to see why I'm petrified of saying or doing something wrong. As always.

She looks so petite in the driver's seat, pulled forward as much as possible. Her dark hair is cascading over one tanned shoulder, and her hands grip the steering wheel a bit too hard.

I imagine her hands on me, her tanned legs around me. I look away and try to think of something else before she notices the effect she has on me.

She turns into a no-exit road with 50s style weatherboard Kiwi houses and stops outside the last one. "Here we are.”

As we climb up the steps to the front door, I remember visiting my Nana in a similar house when I was a child. All native timber wooden floors, small rooms, and a giant fireplace in the living area. It didn't have a grate on the roof, and birds got trapped in it often. I rescued all of them.

She smiles. "Tayla's not in. She's coming back tomorrow from her retreat, but there's someone else inside.” As soon as she turns the key in the lock, a bark erupts from the other side.

Ellie pushes the door open and a small beast rushes out. Ellie kneels to greet it. "Shhh, Daisy, it's late. This is Sam. He's a good guy." Ellie pats and comforts a small gray Staffordshire Terrier. Daisy laps up all the attention then comes to sniff me. I'm not a dog person, or a cat person, to be frank. They require too much commitment for someone who's always gone. I give Daisy two pats on the back, and she leaves content, tail wagging.

"She likes you." Ellie beams at me. Seems like I passed some sort of test. I follow her into the kitchen like a shadow. In her proximity, I feel too big, too awkward, too surly. Like on many occasions, I wish I had Corey's charm.

"... your coffee?"

What did she ask? I should have been listening to her question instead of looking at her like she's dessert. What does she taste like? I shake my head to try and focus. Maybe she asked how I like my coffee. "Milk, no sugar, please. Can I help?"

"Nah, you're alright. It'll be ready in a jiffy." She puts coffee grounds in the small French press then tops up with hot water, pushes the plunger, and pours two coffees. When she hands me a cup, our fingers brush and I feel it to my toes.

I scald my mouth trying to drink too fast. "For fuck's sake!" I put my cup down.

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